by Michael Dean Thompson
When the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (“AAFS”) announced its lineup of workshops for a recent conference, Ted Hunt, a senior policy advisor to the FBI’s crime lab, demanded that references to the FBI be removed from two sessions. Hunt also urged AAFS representatives, including its ...
by Michael Dean Thompson
SoundThinking’s ShotSpotter technology, which uses echolocation to alert police and emergency medical services (“EMS”) to potential gunshots detected by microphones across a city, has faced mounting scrutiny. While sales and public relations teams have touted its effectiveness—and, on occasion, been accused of manipulating data to secure ...
by Michael Dean Thompson
It is no secret that digital advertising companies profit handsomely by accessing and exploiting the private information of consumers. What may be surprising, however, is the increasing efficiency with which these companies collect, distribute, and monetize personal data. This information feeds the American surveillance state, making ...
by Michael Dean Thompson
Few people possess the scientific and mathematical background needed to fully grasp the complexities of DNA evidence after just ten minutes of expert testimony. Yet jurors are routinely tasked with making life-altering decisions for defendants based on such testimony and other intricate technological issues.
Andy Ridgway, ...
by Michael Dean Thompson
Social media has revolutionized connectivity, allowing people to develop and maintain relationships well beyond what was possible just a generation earlier. The revolution has, however, enabled the joint planning, execution, and documentation of crimes. It is therefore no surprise that law enforcement wants to access social ...
by Michael Dean Thompson
With every breath you take, you shed DNA. It is in the skin cells that flake off your body by the millions, the hair that floats off as you walk, and the oil you leave behind on many of the things you touch. And scientists are ...
by Michael Dean Thompson
The U.S. has a dark carceral history that has led to its maintenance of one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Advocates for electronic monitoring (“EM”) have often made the claim that it could reduce incarceration rates and their associated financial and human costs. ...
by Michael Dean Thompson
Don’t ask Google this simple question: “Are Bengal cats legal in Australia?” That is the gist of an urgent warning on cybersecurity firm Sophos’ website. People who have clicked on the resulting links have had their personal information stolen. It is a simple enough hacker tactic ...
by Michael Dean Thompson
Police body cameras were full of promise. After several high-profile police killings, people turned to body cams for a solution. It makes sense. Cameras were already recording an increasing number of incidents as civilians witnessed events that poorly matched police reports. If the cops were wearing ...
by Michael Dean Thompson
The federal government has again discovered that its use of facial recognition technology (“FRT”) harms Americans. The agencies using the technology are often doing so with little oversight or training, which is what the Government Accountability Office told us in 2023. U.S. Commission on Civil Rights ...
